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POLITICO 44

At this week’s international summit meetings in New York and Pittsburgh, President Barack Obama is set to offer heads of state and top diplomats his prescriptions for combating climate change and regulating financial markets.

But Obama’s inability to point to concrete action at home on both fronts — issues where Obama’s proposals have bogged down in Congress – is likely to undercut his bargaining power, and his authority to press other nations to act.

“There’s a possibility of great disillusionment and a sense that Obama is overwhelmed,” said Jeffrey Garten, a professor and former dean at Yale Business School. “The politics of all of these issues is, from a global standpoint, regressive.”

Obama will address a U.N. session on climate change Tuesday morning – but some environmentalists say other nations will surely note the U.S. Senate’s failure to act on the “cap and trade” bill to reduce emissions, and the Obama administration’s reluctance to push the issue ahead of an international conference set for Copenhagen in December.

“What matters internationally is the actual number of emissions cuts. That’s what gives us credibility,” Kert Davies of Greenpeace said. “I don’t know what they go with right now when it’s pretty clear the Senate will not pass a bill this year or maybe even this session.”

“On that issue, we’re arriving, I believe, with no credibility. Just one weak piece of legislation from the House,” Garten said. “Obama’s got a very weak hand.”

With the G-20 economic summit in Pittsburgh set to discuss international plans for regulatory reform to prevent a recurrence of the financial crisis that struck a year ago, the White House, Congress and other powerful institutions like the Federal Reserve seem to be at loggerheads over how to proceed.

Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) is pushing legislation that would strip the Federal Reserve of its role in bank regulation, even as Obama has proposed plans to strengthen the Fed’s role.

“I think from the standpoint of our international credibility the administration has just lost its ability to say, ‘We’ve got a plan and it’s being seriously considered,’ because in fact the plan has been roundly dismissed by the [banking] committee,” said Garten, a Treasury official under President Bill Clinton.

Both issues, to some extent, are casualties of the administration’s decision to put most of its muscle with Congress and the public behind health care reform. Supporters of action on the climate and regulatory fronts fear that the sluggish U.S. response could be a recipe or excuse for inaction in other countries as well.

“A lot of countries that have not wanted to act have hidden behind the U.S.’s skirt,” said Annie Petsonk of the Environmental Defense Fund.

“Now the time for hiding is really over,” she said. “The international community feels like we’re out of time...There’s great concern in the international community about the lack of movement and the loss of momentum.”

Tuesday’s U.N. climate change session was officially convened by Secretary General Ban Ki-moon. However, Obama considers climate change one of his four top priorities at the U.N., the U.S. Ambassador to the world body, Susan Rice, said last week.

In a withering public statement last week, the European Union’s ambassador to the U.S., John Bruton, expressed dismay about reports that the Senate might delay climate action until next year.

“If this were to happen, it would open the United States to the charge that it does not take its international commitments seriously, and that these commitments will always take second place to domestic politics,” Bruton wrote. “I submit that asking an international Conference to sit around looking out the window for months, while one chamber of the legislature of one country deals with its other business, is simply not a realistic political position.”

In a briefing for reporters Friday, U.S. climate change envoy Todd Stern took issue with Bruton’s statement.

“I think that the President… came into office aggressively on this issue and has never stopped,” Stern said. “The Senate is now doing what the Senate does on large, complex legislation. It has jurisdiction in a number of committees. It is a highly consequential bill that probably affects every corner of the economy. They are also wrestling with major healthcare legislation. That’s the way our process goes. It may be that some people on the other side of the pond don’t understand the system that well, but that is the way our system works, and we’re pushing ahead.”

However, Stern acknowledged that moving the legislation would help the U.S.’s standing on the issue. “Each step along the way…is very useful and helps the U.S. in terms of both leverage and credibility,” he said.

On the international economic agenda, the White House’s point person for the G-20 summit, Mike Froman, said Obama can point to plenty of action.

“Whether it was the stimulus or getting the approval of the IMF funding through Congress in really a relatively short period of time after the April summit, or on the regulatory reform agenda, putting forward a comprehensive plan including 600 pages of legislation—I think he goes to Pittsburgh being able to say, we’re serious about these issues, we're taking action, we're prepared to lead by example,” Froman told reporters last week.

On Thursday, Obama is set to host a historic meeting of U.N. Security Council heads of state to discuss his calls for global efforts on nonproliferation and nuclear security.

But even there, foreign leaders may be wary of the U.S. position. During the campaign, Obama publicly opposed designing new nuclear weapons for the United States. However, just last week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates, a holdover appointee from the Bush administration, reiterated his stance that new weapons designs are needed to keep the U.S. arsenal reliable and safe.

“It is clear, at least to me, that it is important for us to continue to make investments, and I think larger investments, in modernizing our nuclear infrastructure, the labs and so on, the expertise in those places, to have the resources for life-extension programs, and in one or two cases probably new designs that will be safer and more reliable,” Gates said last week at an Air Force Association conference.

Gates insisted that a drive for new designs would not mean the U.S. was seeking a nuclear advantage.

“That’s a red herring. This is about modernizing and keeping safe a capability that everyone acknowledges we will have to have for some considerable period into the future before achieving some of the objectives of significant arms reduction and eventually no nuclear weapons at all,” he said. “I also believe that these capabilities are enablers of arms control and our ability to reduce the size of our nuclear stockpile. When we have more confidence in the long-term viability of our weapons systems, then our ability to reduce the number of weapons we must keep in the stockpile is enhanced.”

Vice President Biden is reportedly opposing Gates’s push for new weapons, but talk of new weapons unnerves arms control advocates.

“It’s partly hypocrisy of, how can you tell Iran and North Korea they can’t develop new nuclear weapons when not only do we have thousands, we’re developing new nuclear weapons ourselves,” said John Isaacs of the Council for a Livable World. “An endorsement of new nuclear weapons seems to undercut that.”

Readers' Comments (224)

Obama has to deal with a very regressive Republican Party that is simply opposed to all change of any kind and hasn't had a new idea in 100 years. It is not even really a conservative party, but a reactionary and Far Right party, more like European fascism, such as the British National Party. this is especially true because of its Confederate-evangelical base on the South, and groups of these fascists post all the time on Politico.

They don't represent the majority in the United States, but they are a very noise and hysterical minority, who are using McCarthyite tactics all the time. I wish this party did not exist at all, but as long as the South is in the Union, we will never get rid of it totally--which means we will never have a rational conservative party.

It goes without saying that they are opposed to all health care reform, regulation of Wall Street, or investment in new technology and cleaning up the environment. Foreigners should not judge us by the most reactionary and fascist elements in our society. We beat them in 2008 with an all-out effort and we can beat them again, because the generational reform cycle is in our favor.

We do wish Obama and the Dems were not often weak and inconsistent, though, and more afraid of these neo-fascists than they should be.

Obama has to deal with a very regressive Republican Party that is simply opposed to all change of any kind and hasn't had a new idea in 100 years. It is not even really a conservative party, but a reactionary and Far Right party, more like European fascism, such as the British National Party. this is especially true because of its Confederate-evangelical base on the South, and groups of these fascists post all the time on Politico.

They don't represent the majority in the United States, but they are a very noise and hysterical minority, who are using McCarthyite tactics all the time. I wish this party did not exist at all, but as long as the South is in the Union, we will never get rid of it totally--which means we will never have a rational conservative party.

It goes without saying that they are opposed to all health care reform, regulation of Wall Street, or investment in new technology and cleaning up the environment. Foreigners should not judge us by the most reactionary and fascist elements in our society. We beat them in 2008 with an all-out effort and we can beat them again, because the generational reform cycle is in our favor.

We do wish Obama and the Dems were not often weak and inconsistent, though, and more afraid of these neo-fascists than they should be.

Well, the good thing about Obama going to the UN is the entire world will see him for what he is....an inexperienced megalmaniac used car salesman from Chicago who never had a real job in his life and can't do anything without a teleprompter, a spending program, a corrupt and crimminal political organization and the SEIU.

I guess he will once again apologize for some perceived sins the US under committed under Bush and the libanazis from Europe will applaud and cheer him as he shows further weakness and embarrasses our country and retreats still further from leading the world fight for democracy but what the hell, he needs to hear the crowd cheer him just like Hitler did. But the people who he should want to pay attention to him....Putin, Qaddafi, Amadijan will just laugh at him. if they even pay attention to him at all. And, I have no doubt he'll commit us to spend more money for the UN's useless bureaucracy when people here are hurting but when you're the "citizen of the world" do you really care if you're taking food from the US and give it to Africa when people in the US can use it.

We do wish Obama and the Dems were not often weak and inconsistent, though, and more afraid of these neo-fascists than they should be.

Weak just doesn't quite go far enough . Obama does not seem capable of leading a hungry momma wolf to fresh meat . He has both houses, a sycophantic press , and an adoring and endlessly forgiving electorate , and he still is doing everything wrong .

It's time for the USA to leave the UN and remove the UN building in NY to another country.Like, maybe North Korea.The UN is obsolete and anti American and always will be.Ambassador Brutons comments proves my point.The UN needs us more then we need them and we no longer need them.Not only do we not only not need them we are better off without them.The UN is incapabale of doing anything of importance without the USA's support.We pull to much of the weight and recieve nothing in return.If President Obama were to tell the American people that we are going to leave the UN,I honestly think the American people would unite together in support of this decision.We are tired of being kicked in the teeth any longer.We can aid those that need our aid far more efficiently without the UN fouling things up with the petty BS that the UN is now famous for.Americans will always aid those who need humanitarian aid with the UN or with out.Preferably without.Wake up America ,we need the UN as much as we need the Taliban or Al-Queda.Billions of our tax dollars are being wasted on this organization.It is like arming our enemies and should cease immediately.I'm sure member nations of the UN would have no problem with our split from their cronyist organization.The sooner the better.We wont let the door hit us on the ass on our way out.

You are far too unkind to used car salesmen . They must sell something somebody doesn't want to somebody who doesn't want to buy it , and the intended customer must have money or at least credit . Obama can't sell something everybody wants , to people who want it ,even when it is being paid for with somebody elses money . A salesman is never weak . Let me tell you weak . WEAK is caving to two repugnican Kansas Senators by promising not to relocate Gitmo detainees to their state in return for them dropping their opposition to appoint McHugh , a repugnican, as Secretary of the Army . LBJ would have had these two hacks putting al qaeda prisoners up in the JayHawk dorms and closing all military facilities in Kansas for even trying this BS .

But Obama’s inability to point to concrete action at home on both fronts -- issues where Obama’s proposals have bogged down in Congress –

You mean his inabiltiy to make the "tough choices" he accused Bush of not being able to make. Bank bailouts, "stimulus" packages, deficits, war, spying and the inabiltiy to make the tough choices.. I thought we were supposed to "say no to a third Bush term". It's looking more and more like Bush 3 everyday.

With bigots ,a weak Dem party ,and the Party of Waterloo,it's no wonder he will have a weak hand. He has weak help. No one wants him and America to succeed for political gains. America needs Christ. Right wing Christians spend more time talking like politicians , than Christians. They have forgotten about lost souls. The Republican Party need a like of spiritual help. Yes,they are anti gay,and Abortion,but what about lying,adultery,war,greed and torture. It's time for Real Christian to stand up. Hating Obama is not your calling.

Well, the good thing about Obama going to the UN is the entire world will see him for what he is....an inexperienced megalmaniac used car salesman from Chicago who never had a real job in his life and can't do anything without a teleprompter, a spending program, a corrupt and crimminal political organization and the SEIU.

I guess he will once again apologize for some perceived sins the US under committed under Bush and the libanazis from

The repubs should act like Americans and support their POTUS. It's simple unAmerican not too.

You mean his inabiltiy to make the "tough choices" he accused Bush of not being able to make. Bank bailouts, "stimulus" packages, deficits, war, spying and the inabiltiy to make the tough choices.. I thought we were supposed to "say no to a third Bush term". It's looking more and more like Bush 3 everyday.

GWB had 8 years to succeed. Obama has 8 months. Both came into office with no great experience. Most POTUS were un experienced

You are far too unkind to used car salesmen . They must sell something somebody doesn't want to somebody who doesn't want to buy it , and the intended customer must have money or at least credit . Obama can't sell something everybody wants , to people who want it ,even when it is being paid for with somebody elses money . A salesman is never

It hard to sell anything to bigots and the Party of Waterloo. The are anti Obama no matter what he does.

I'm just curious Mike, why do you think the Republicans have no ideas? They have plenty that you in your Liberal flunky role just do not happen to agree with. But like a typical Libanazi you naturally insult and deinigrate us. Saul Alinsky would be proud of you. As I've often said if you want to live in a country with European socialism nobody here is preventing you from moving to a European country. This is America and the overwhelming majority of Americans like it just as it is. We do not want a nanny state. This country was founded on individual freedom and responsibility

And isn't it funny how the opinion polls show Conservatives outnumber liberals? And what makes you are superior to somebody who is from the South? People from the South are amomg the most patriotic Americans. I've never heard one of them trash America like you and your Dear Leader do. And, I'll point out to an ignorant Liberal like you that the Declaration of Independence was written by somebody from the South....Thomas Jefferson, The US Constitution was written by somebody from the South....James Madison, And the Commander in Chief during the Revolution was somebody from the South....George Washington.

As for your Generational Reform, I see you're quoting more Liberal dogma. Here's a little bit of real knowledge for you...As people get older, have families, move up in their careers, they generally want to keep more of their money so they can give their families things they never had and thus become more conservative so the Economic Reform is in a Conservative direction not the give, give, give of Liberal direction. And, they also like to make their own decisions about how they want to live their lives without an intrusive government butting into it. Your liberal views came from the 1960's and the Woodstock generation turned into bankers, lawyers, accountants, stock brokers, doctors, and managers a long time ago. Grow up.

Weak just doesn't quite go far enough . Obama does not seem capable of leading a hungry momma wolf to fresh meat . He has both houses, a sycophantic press , and an adoring and endlessly forgiving electorate , and he still is doing everything wrong .

He has the white blue dogs and the Party of waterloo to deal with. Bigots are hard to reach. It will be hard for God to reach these people.

The Dems have the House, Senate, Supreme Court, White House, and the MSM - their doing this all on their own without any help from the Republicans. (give someone enough rope....)

It's the Dems who have been the party of NO not the Republicans. The evidence is that the Dems can't get anything done now that they have all of the power. (because they do not have any coherent ideas). They have had the position of the unaccountable critic the last 8 years (really 6 out of the last 8 years), now they have the reigns and don't know what to do with them. (There's leadership for you!)

GWB had 8 years to succeed. Obama has 8 months. Both came into office with no great experience. Most POTUS were un experienced

captivating one: Sep. 22, 2009 - 12:39 AM EST

The repubs should act like Americans and support their POTUS. It's simple unAmerican not too.

captivating one: Sep. 22, 2009 - 12:37 AM EST

With bigots ,a weak Dem party ,and the Party of Waterloo,it's no wonder he will have a weak hand. He has weak help. No one wants him and America to succeed for political gains. America needs Christ. Right wing Christians spend more time talking like politicians , than Christians. They have forgotten about lost souls. The Republican Party need a like of spiritual help. Yes,they are anti gay,and Abortion,but what about lying,adultery,war,greed and torture. It's time for Real Christian to stand up. Hating Obama is not your calling.

You might snare some superstititous mental defectives with stunted psycho-socio development with these lines , but there is nothing American and nothing new about your bait of religious nonsense and your conflating of the patriotic duty to hold elected officials to account with paying homage and fealty to someone who has been elected to serve not reign . You really need to set a higher bar than the achievements GWB if you hope to pass the giggle test .

Bargaining power? Obama doesn't know what that is. Here he gives up the missle shield in Poland and we get????????nothing in return. We should have stood tough and negotiated Russia's help in influencing Iran at the very least. I am affraid that Obama can't close any deals, he is naive, weak, and being outsmarted by every other leader in the world. He has done nothing but show how weak and incompetent he is, and the rest of the world ie Russia, Iran, N. Korea, the Taliban, and now the American people realize that this guy is way over his head. He may give a good speech, but more and more it is just empty rhetoric.

The repubs should act like Americans and support their POTUS. It's simple unAmerican not too.

Did you when Bush was in office? Or is this just typical Liberal hypocrisy? You know when pick on him when he's not your guy but support him when he is your guy?

However, give me a real leader to support and I will. But not somebody like this loser the left and the media managed to get elected by constantly bashing Bush and tying a real American Leader like McCain to him.

You know all Obama does is continue to vote "present" on everything. Did he lead on the Porkulus with what he wanted? No, he let Pelosi & Reid write it. It's nothing more than a two year reelection budget whose funds don't kick in until May 2010; just enough time to try to make the voters feel warm and fuzzy about the Democrats. People need the help now now 8 months from now. But he just signed it. Has he led on Healthcare? No. It's going down in flames. And he will blame it on the Republicans because the MSM is so in love with him that they don't think he can do anything wrong. But doesn't his party control Congress? He can't even get his own people to do what he wants.

Has he lead on anything in foreign affairs other than appeasing Putin? No. Do the Russians, Iranians, Chinese, Libyans, Syrians, or North Koreans respect him? No. Has he thrown Israel under a bus? Yes. Did he lead the charge in defending the Irainian people who protested against a rigged election? No. That was done by France and Germany. Has he thrown Poland and Czech (sorry I can't spell that one) under a bus? Yes. Has he insulted our British friends? Yes. So far all he's done is made the French and Belgians like us again. Wow! We can sleep better on that one. Did he get any commitment from China and India to reduce THEIR pollution if we enact "crap & trade"? No. Other than shooting those Somali pirates, he's not had one foreign policy success.

Obama is nothing more than an inexperienced lying weasel. He's not done one thing to get the economy moving. And, the true measure of the economy is the unemployment number which I'm sure even you will agree is the highest in 50 years. I know you'll blame Bush for that but as far as I'm concerned, the minute Obama signed the Porkulus bill, the economy became his and all he's done is create Public Sector and Not for profit jobs. Here's a little tid bit for you....those jobs do not create productivity, they consume it either through higher taxes or incresed government funding which comes from higher taxes.

Frak Obama. He's nothing more than the second Carter Administration and I hope we all remember how bad that was.

This article is bs. Obama saved the world economy from a Great Depression. The stock market is almost up to 10 now. Unemployment is decreasing, manufacturing is up, predicted upturn for last quarter, housing sales up, we are out of the recession. This is all great news for G-20. We did get a climate bill out of the House. Solved the missle defense issue. He will be just as popular as always. He hasn't lost anything. He will be brilliant as always.